Skip to main content

The Anti-vaccine Movement: A Pharmacist’s View

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Vaccinophobia and Vaccine Controversies of the 21st Century

Abstract

Pharmacists are widely known as the most accessible health care providers, and are often called upon to serve as the liaison between other health care professionals, patients, and caregivers to facilitate communication, clarify purpose of therapy, and dispel myths and misconceptions. In the last decade, pharmacists have begun to play an integral role in the provision of vaccinations, and are uniquely positioned to educate the public about vaccines and the current evidence to support their safe use. Currently, all 50 states allow pharmacists to administer vaccines. There are barriers to the continuing expansion of pharmacists in this role, including turf wars with other health care providers, lack of public understanding/acceptance of the pharmacist in that role, lack of understanding regarding the education and training of pharmacists, and lack of structure for compensation of pharmacists from insurers. Nevertheless, pharmacists have demonstrated the ability to increase vaccination rates.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Hogue MD, Grabenstein JD, Foster SL, Rothholz MC. Pharmacist involvement with immunizations: a decade of professional advancement. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2006;46(2):168–79. quiz 179–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Report of task force on the pharmacist’s clinical role. J Am Pharm Assoc. 1971;11(9):482–5.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Traynor K. With Maine on board, pharmacists in all 50 states can vaccinate: H1N1 prompts emergency vaccination rules for pharmacists. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2009;66(21):1892. 1894.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. APhA approves guidelines for pharmacy-based immunization advocacy and administration. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 1997;54(22):2553–4.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Doucette W, Gaither C, Kreling D, Mott D, Schommer J. Final report of the 2009 National Sample Survey of the Pharmacist Workforce to determine contemporary demographic and practice characteristics. 2010. http://www.aacp.org/resources/research/pharmacymanpower/Documents/2009%20National%20Pharmacist%20Workforce%20Survey%20-%20FINAL%20REPORT.pdf. Accessed 16 Apr 2012.

  6. Kremers E, Sonnedecker G. Kremers and Urdang’s history of pharmacy. Madison, WI: American Institute of the History of Pharmacy; 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Keely JL, Medicine ACoP-ASoI. Pharmacist scope of practice. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136(1):79–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Schaffer SJ, Fontanesi J, Rickert D, et al. How effectively can health care settings beyond the traditional medical home provide vaccines to adolescents? Pediatrics. 2008;121 Suppl 1:S35–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Morgado M, Rolo S, Castelo-Branco M. Pharmacist intervention program to enhance hypertension control: a randomised controlled trial. Int J Clin Pharm. 2011;33(1):132–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Mehuys E, Van Bortel L, De Bolle L, et al. Effectiveness of a community pharmacist intervention in diabetes care: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2011;36(5):602–13.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Henderson KC, Hindman J, Johnson SC, Valuck RJ, Kiser JJ. Assessing the effectiveness of pharmacy-based adherence interventions on antiretroviral adherence in persons with HIV. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2011;25(4):221–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Aslani P, Rose G, Chen TF, Whitehead PA, Krass I. A community pharmacist delivered adherence support service for dyslipidaemia. Eur J Public Health. 2011;21(5):567–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Vivian EM. The pharmacist’s role in maintaining adherence to insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Consult Pharm. 2007;22(4):320–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Murray MD, Young J, Hoke S, et al. Pharmacist intervention to improve medication adherence in heart failure: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2007;146(10):714–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Bunting BA, Smith BH, Sutherland SE. The Asheville Project: clinical and economic outcomes of a community-based long-term medication therapy management program for hypertension and dyslipidemia. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2008;48(1):23–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Bunting BA, Cranor CW. The Asheville Project: long-term clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes of a community-based medication therapy management program for asthma. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2006;46(2):133–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Cranor CW, Bunting BA, Christensen DB. The Asheville Project: long-term clinical and economic outcomes of a community pharmacy diabetes care program. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2003;43(2):173–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Taitel M, Cohen E, Duncan I, Pegus C. Pharmacists as providers: targeting pneumococcal vaccinations to high risk populations. Vaccine. 2011;29(45):8073–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Skelton JB, American Pharmacists Association, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy. Pharmacist-provided immunization compensation and recognition: white paper summarizing APhA/AMCP stakeholder meeting. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2011;51(6):704–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Steyer TE, Ragucci KR, Pearson WS, Mainous III AG. The role of pharmacists in the delivery of influenza vaccinations. Vaccine. 2004;22(8):1001–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Bubalo J, Clark Jr RK, Jiing SS, et al. Medication adherence: pharmacist perspective. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2010;50(3):394–406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Crawford ND, Blaney S, Amesty S, et al. Individual- and neighborhood-level characteristics associated with support of in-pharmacy vaccination among ESAP-registered pharmacies: pharmacists’ role in reducing racial/ethnic disparities in influenza vaccinations in New York City. J Urban Health. 2011;88(1):176–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Vlahov D, Coady MH, Ompad DC, Galea S. Strategies for improving influenza immunization rates among hard-to-reach populations. J Urban Health. 2007;84(4):615–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Ernst ME, Bergus GR, Sorofman BA. Patients’ acceptance of traditional and nontraditional immunization providers. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2001;41(1):53–9.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Blake EW, Blair MM, Couchenour RL. Perceptions of pharmacists as providers of immunizations for adult patients. Pharmacotherapy. 2003;23(2):248–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Grabenstein JD, Guess HA, Hartzema AG, Koch GG, Konrad TR. Effect of vaccination by community pharmacists among adult prescription recipients. Med Care. 2001;39(4):340–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Grabenstein JD, Bonasso J. Health-system pharmacists’ role in immunizing adults against pneumococcal disease and influenza. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 1999;56(17 Suppl 2):S3–22. quiz S23–4.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Federal Conscience Clause. http://www.pharmacist.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home2&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=15688. Accessed 29 Mar 2012.

  29. Kummer GL, Foushee LL. Description of the characteristics of pharmacist-based immunization services in North Carolina: results of a pharmacist survey. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2008;48(6):744–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Immunization Registries. 2012. http://www.immunize.org/registries/. Accessed 29 Mar 2012.

  31. Giberson S, Yoder S, Lee MP. Improving patient and health system outcomes through advanced pharmacy practice. A report to the U.S. Surgeon General: Office of the Chief Pharmacist, U.S. Public Health Service. December, 2011. http://www.usphs.gov/corpslinks/pharmacy/comms/pdf/2011advancedpharmacypracticereporttotheussg.pdf. Accessed 16 Apr 2012.

  32. Snella KA, Trewyn RR, Hansen LB, Bradberry JC. Pharmacist compensation for cognitive services: focus on the physician office and community pharmacy. Pharmacotherapy. 2004;24(3):372–88.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Medicare Preventative Services. 2012. http://www.medicare.gov/navigation/manage-your-health/preventive-services/preventive-service-overview.aspx. Accessed 29 Mar 2012.

  34. Ruiz AD, Frei CR, Barner JC, et al. Influenza vaccination rates among pharmacists. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2010;50(4):517–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Mallari J, Goad J, Wu J, Johnson K, Forman T, Neinstein L. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding influenza vaccination among health professional students. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2007;47(4):498–502.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeffery Goad Pharm.D., M.P.H. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Goad, J., Durham, M. (2013). The Anti-vaccine Movement: A Pharmacist’s View. In: Chatterjee, A. (eds) Vaccinophobia and Vaccine Controversies of the 21st Century. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7438-8_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7438-8_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-7437-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-7438-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics